The Chiefs signed Thomas as an undrafted free agent out of tiny Bishop College in 1966. “We knew about Emmitt and were excited to sign him,” said Hank Stram. “But we never anticipated him making such an impact on the team.” At 6-foot-2, 192 pounds, Thomas possessed an uncanny knack for staying locked in man-to-man coverage with the best receivers in the game, and his presence helped turn a good Chiefs secondary into a great one. Thomas led pro football in interceptions twice in 1969 and again in 1974, earning him one trip to the AFL All-Star Game and four more to the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. He was particularly outstanding during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run in 1969, when he made key interceptions in all three playoff games. None were bigger than in the 1969 AFL Championship game when, in the fourth quarter with the Chiefs leading by 7, he picked off a Daryle Lamonica pass at the Kansas City 20 and returned it all the way to the Oakland 18, setting up the Jan Stenerud field goal that sealed the win.